Apparatus for cutting an endless, continuously fed elongated element into desired lengths

ABSTRACT

In apparatus for cutting wire into lengths, the mechanical transmission between a drive and wire cutting means intermittently operable thereby includes an elastically deformable torsion rod having one end fixedly connected to the drive for rotation thereby and its other end connected to locking means operable to prevent rotation of the other torsion rod end whereby the torsion rod is subjected to torsion when the locking means is operated. Means for intermittently freeing the locking means permits rotation of the other torsion rod end.

United States Patent [191 Haas [ Mar. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AN ENDLESS, CONTINUOUSLY FED ELONGATED ELEMENT INTO DESIRED LENGTHS [76] Inventor: Eduard Haas, Parkring 10, Vienna 1, Austria [22] Filed: Mar. 14, 1974 211 App]. No.: 451,082

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. I4, 1973 Austria 22760/73 [52] US. Cl....' 83/355, 83/587, 83/602 [51] Int. Cl B26d 5/20 [58] Field of Search 83/355, 587, 586, 602;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1918 Hren 83/587X 3/1971 Gesell et al..... 83/355 7/1973 Frohrib 83/587 Primary Examiner--Frank T. Yost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT In apparatus for cutting wire into lengths, the mechanical transmission between a drive and wire cutting means intermittently operable thereby includes an elastically deformable torsion rod having one end fixedly connected to the drive for rotation thereby and its other end connected to locking means operable to prevent rotation of the other torsion rod end whereby the torsion rod is subjected to torsion when the lock ing means is operated. Means for intermittently freeing the locking means permits rotation of the other torsion rod end.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AN ENDLESQ, CONTINUOUSLY FED ELONGATED ELEMENT INTO DESHRED LENGTHS The present invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for cutting a flexible elongated element, such as a wire, into lengths, such apparatus comprising a cutting mechanism including intermittently operable cutting means, means for continuously feeding the flexible elongated element to the cutting means, a drive for operating the cutting means, and a mechanical transmission between the drive and the cutting means.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus of this type which cuts an elongated flexible element fed at high delivery speeds to the cutting means into accurate lengths within narrow tolerances.

It is a particular object of the invention to cut continuously manufacture wire coils for springs or incandescent filaments into lengths comprising a given number of windings.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention with a mechanical transmission which includes an elongated rotatable element elastically deformable under torsion and having two ends. One of the ends of the rotatable element is fixedly connected to the drive for rotation thereby, and a locking means is connected to the other end of the rotatable element and is operable to prevent rotation of the other end thereof while the one end is rotated by the drive whereby the rotatable element is subjected to torsion when the locking means is operated. A means for intermittently releasing the locking means permits rotation of the other end of the rotatable element.

Thus, depending on the setting of the locking means, the one rotated end of the rotatable element will be turned by a given angle, for instance 360, in respect to the locked other end of the rotatable element to subject the same to torsion. Upon reaching the set angle, a cam or like control will free the locking means and the rotatable element will snap back into its original position, releasing the stored energy it has accumulated under the torsion force. The rapid rotation of the originally locked other end of the rotatable element under the force of the stored energy is used to actuate the cutting means, thus making the actual cutting a rapid operation, the energy stored in the torsion-loaded rotatable element being used for opening and closing the cutting means. Since the control for the intermittent release of the locking means can be made quite accurate with very simple means, close tolerances of the cut lengths may readily be obtained.

The deform able rotatable element may consist of any useful and suitable device which is elastically deformed when subjected to torsion, such as torsion springs. Torsion rods of a suitable synthetic resin have been found particularly suitable.

Where the apparatus is to be used for the cutting of wire, a preferred cutting mechanism comprises a hollow body with a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical rod rotatably guided in the bore of the hollow body, and cooperating cutting edges at one of the ends of the hollow body and cylindrical rod. The body and rod are rotated in respect of each other to effectuate cutting. The cutting edges of such a mechanism have been found to be subject to a minimum of wear.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a now preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the apparatus, partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a section along line II-Il of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, an endless supply of a flexible elongated element, such as wire 2 is continuously delivered by feeding mechanism 3 to cutting mechanism 1 to be cut there into desired lengths of wire. Drive 30 operates the feeding mechanism and drive 4 operates the cutting mechanism, the two drives being preferably coupled together for operation in unison, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1. Mechanical transmission 5 connects drive 4 with actuating means 6 of cutting mechanism 1.

The cutting mechanism comprises hollow, body 7 having a cylindrical axial bore through which extends rotatable rod 8, body 7 being held stationary in support 26 of the frame of the apparatus (not shown) and cylindrical rod 8 being rotatably guided in the bore of body 7. At one of their ends, member 7 and rod 8 have cooperating cutting edges 9 and 10 defining gap 11 therebetween, wire 2 being continuously delivered through this gap to be cut to length, the lengths of the cut wire being determined by the set intervals at which rod 8 is rotated in respect of body 7 to cut the wire between the cooperating cutting edges.

Transmission 5 comprises hollow shaft 12 having an axial bore through which extends transmission element 31. One end of shaft 12 is connected to drive 4 by drive shaft 13 which is keyed to shaft 12 by wedge 14. The drive shaft is supported in bearing 15 forming part of the frame of the apparatus (not shown). Transmission element 31 is an elastically deformable elongated rotatable element, such as a torsion rod, which may be deformed under torsion and may consist of an elastomeric synthetic resin which is substantially rigid when not subject to torsion. Useful synthetic resins include polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylchloride, a polyamide resin, and preferably an elastomeric synthetic rubber on the basis of an ethylene glycol-adipic acid polyester combined with naphtalene-l ,5- diisocyanate. One end of elastically deformable element 31 is fixedly connected to hollow shaft 12 by clamping sleeve 16 and the other end of element 31 is similarly friction-fitted into the axial bore of intermediate hollow shaft 18 by means of clamping sleeve 17. Shaft 18 is journaled in bearing support 29 and antifriction bearing 32 is arranged between intermediate shaft 18 and hollow shaft 12 so that shaft 12 is freely rotatable in respect of shaft 18.

As will be best seen in FIG. 3, control disc 19 is keyed to intermediate shaft 18 and has radial projection 20. This projection is engageable by stopping rod 21 affixed to journal 341 to constitute a locking means operable to prevent rotation of the other end of rod 31 while the one end is rotated by the drive. Cam ring 35 is adjustably mounted on hollow shaft 12 by means of set screw 37, the cam ring carrying cam 36. Guide rod 38, which is also affixed to journal 34, has an outer end spring-biased against cam ring 35, the cam-operated guide rod constituting means for intermittently releasing the locking means.

Disc 22 is mounted eccentrically on intermediate shaft 18 adjacent disc 19 (see FIG. 2) and is keyed to shaft 18. Eccenter disc 22 is freely rotatably guided in circular ring 23 which has push rod 24 whose outer end is connected to rotatable rod 8 of cutting mechanism 1 by means of crank 25 which is pivoted or linked to the outer guide rod end.

Wire 2 is continuously delivered to the cutting mechanism by cooperating feed rolls 27, 28, roll 28 being geared to gear wheel 33 which is rotated by drive 30.

The above-described apparatus operates as follows:

Upon actuation of drives 30 and 4, the wire 2 is continuously delivered to the cutting mechanism through gap 11 between cutting edges 9, while drive shaft 13 rotates hollow shaft 12, elastically deformable transmission rod 31 keyed to shaft 12 and intermediate hollow shaft 18 keyed to rod 31. However, intermediate shaft 18 is rotated only until stopping rod 21 engages projection on disc 19. Upon engagement of rod 21 with projection 20 (see FIG. 3), the continuing rotation of hollow shaft 12 by drive shaft 13 will subject transmission rod 31 to torsion since its one end will remain keyed to rotating shaft 12 by means of clamping sleeve 16 while its other end is keyed to intermediate shaft 18 by means of clamping sleeve 17, and shaft 18 is prevented from further rotation by the interengagement of rod 21 and projection 20. This torsion will cause an elastic deformation of rod 31 and energy to be stored in the rod.

Cam ring 35, which is keyed to shaft 12, will continue to rotate therewith until its cam 36 reaches springbiased guide rod 38. The cam will lift the guide rod and since stopping rod 21 is affixed to the same journal 34 as the guide rod, the stopping rod will also be lifted out of engagement with projection 20. This frees disc 19 and intermediate shaft 18 for rotation again and deformed rod 31 returns under rapid rotation of shaft 18 and eccenter disc 22 keyed thereto back to its initial unloaded position.

The rapid rotation of eccenter disc 22 under the load of torsion rod 31 is converted by circular ring 23 into a rectilinear reciprocating motion which is transmitted by push rod 24 and crank 25 linked thereto to rotatable rod 8, thus actuating the same and causing the wire to be cut between cooperating cutting edges 9, 10.

If drives and 4 are coupled for simultaneous operation, suitable dimensioning of the transmission will assure operation of the cutting mechanism at such intervals that the wire will be cut after a given length thereof has been delivered to the cutting mechanism. This enables close tolerances of the cut wire lengths to be maintained by very simple means. Furthermore, since the energy stored in torsion rod 31 enables the cutting operation to be effectuated very rapidly and forcefully, the feeding speed of the wire may be considerably increased over that of known apparatus of this type. The timing of the cutting operation and the frequency thereof may be adjusted by resetting cam ring 35 or by providing several cams thereon and/or several locking discs 19 with stopping rods. Also, various mechanisms for converting the rotary motion of torsion rod 31 into an actuating motion for cutting mechanism 1 will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for cutting a flexible elongated element into lengths, which comprises a cutting mechanism including intermittently operable cutting means, means for continuously feeding the flexible elongated element to the cutting means, a drive for operating the cutting means, and a mechanical transmission between the drive and the cutting means, the mechanical transmission including 1. an elongated rotatable element elastically deformable under torsion and having two ends,

a. one of the ends of the rotatable element being fixedly connected to the drive for rotation thereby,

2. a locking means connected to the other end of the rotatable element and operable to prevent rotation of the other end thereof while the one end is rotated by the drive whereby the rotatable element is subjected to torsion when the locking means is operated, and

3. means for intermittently releasing the locking means to permit rotation of the other end of the rotatable element.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive shaft connected to the drive and an intermediate shaft connected to the cutting means, the rotatable element being fixedly connected at the one end to the drive shaft and at the other end' to the intermediate shaft.

3. In the apparatus of claim 2, a disc eccentrically mounted on, and keyed to, the intermediate shaft, a circular ring wherein the eccentrically mounted disc is freely rotatably guided, a push rod extending radially from the circular ring, and an actuating mechanism for the cutting means, the push rod being mechanically connected to the actuating mechanism.

4. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive shaft connected to the drive, a hollow shaft having two ends and an axial bore through which the elongated rotatable element extends, the one end of the rotatable element and one of the hollow shaft ends being fixedly connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, and the other end of the hollow shaft carrying a control for the means for intermittently releasing the locking means 5. In the apparatus of claim 1, an intermediate shaft connected to the other end of the rotatable element and to the cutting means, and the locking means comprising a control disc mounted on the intermediate shaft for rotation therewith, and means operable to engage the disc for stopping rotation thereof and of the intermediate shaft.

6. In the apparatus of claim 5, a drive shaft connected to the drive, a hollow shaft having two ends and an axial bore through which the elongated rotatable element extends, the one end of the rotatable element and one of the hollow shaft ends being fixedly connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, the other end of the hollow shaft being freely rotatably journaled on the intermediate shaft, the means operable to engage the control disc comprising a stop on the disc and a stopping rod for engagement with the stop, and the means for intermittently releasing the locking means comprising cam means carried on the other hollow shaft end for disengaging the rod from the stop.

7. In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated rotatable element is a torsion rod.

8. In the apparatus of claim 7, wherein the torsion rod consists of an elastically deformable synthetic resin.

9. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive for operating the continuous feeding means, and the drives for operating the feeding and cutting means being coupled for movement in unison.

10. In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated element is wire, the cutting mechanism comprising a hollow body with a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical rod rotatably guided in the bore of the hollow body, and cooperating cutting edges at one of the ends of the hollow body and cylindrical rod. 

1. In an apparatus for cutting a flexible elongated element into lengths, which comprises a cutting mechanism including intermittently operable cutting means, means for continuously feeding the flexible elongated element to the cutting means, a drive for operating the cutting means, and a mechanical transmission between the drive and the cutting means, the mechanical transmission including
 1. an elongated rotatable element elastically deformable under torsion and having two ends, a. one of the ends of the rotatable element being fixedly connected to the drive for rotation thereby,
 2. a locking means connected to the other end of the rotatable element and operable to prevent rotation of the other end thereof while the one end is rotated by the drive whereby the rotatable element is subjected to torsion when the locking means is operated, and
 3. means for intermittently releasing the locking means to permit rOtation of the other end of the rotatable element.
 2. a locking means connected to the other end of the rotatable element and operable to prevent rotation of the other end thereof while the one end is rotated by the drive whereby the rotatable element is subjected to torsion when the locking means is operated, and
 2. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive shaft connected to the drive and an intermediate shaft connected to the cutting means, the rotatable element being fixedly connected at the one end to the drive shaft and at the other end to the intermediate shaft.
 3. In the apparatus of claim 2, a disc eccentrically mounted on, and keyed to, the intermediate shaft, a circular ring wherein the eccentrically mounted disc is freely rotatably guided, a push rod extending radially from the circular ring, and an actuating mechanism for the cutting means, the push rod being mechanically connected to the actuating mechanism.
 3. means for intermittently releasing the locking means to permit rOtation of the other end of the rotatable element.
 4. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive shaft connected to the drive, a hollow shaft having two ends and an axial bore through which the elongated rotatable element extends, the one end of the rotatable element and one of the hollow shaft ends being fixedly connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, and the other end of the hollow shaft carrying a control for the means for intermittently releasing the locking means.
 5. In the apparatus of claim 1, an intermediate shaft connected to the other end of the rotatable element and to the cutting means, and the locking means comprising a control disc mounted on the intermediate shaft for rotation therewith, and means operable to engage the disc for stopping rotation thereof and of the intermediate shaft.
 6. In the apparatus of claim 5, a drive shaft connected to the drive, a hollow shaft having two ends and an axial bore through which the elongated rotatable element extends, the one end of the rotatable element and one of the hollow shaft ends being fixedly connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, the other end of the hollow shaft being freely rotatably journaled on the intermediate shaft, the means operable to engage the control disc comprising a stop on the disc and a stopping rod for engagement with the stop, and the means for intermittently releasing the locking means comprising cam means carried on the other hollow shaft end for disengaging the rod from the stop.
 7. In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated rotatable element is a torsion rod.
 8. In the apparatus of claim 7, wherein the torsion rod consists of an elastically deformable synthetic resin.
 9. In the apparatus of claim 1, a drive for operating the continuous feeding means, and the drives for operating the feeding and cutting means being coupled for movement in unison.
 10. In the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated element is wire, the cutting mechanism comprising a hollow body with a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical rod rotatably guided in the bore of the hollow body, and cooperating cutting edges at one of the ends of the hollow body and cylindrical rod. 